PITTSBURGH — (BUSINESS WIRE) — July 27, 2010 —
The world’s first commercial “flying car” will go the distance on both
highways and runways next year when it rolls off the production line —
thanks, in part, to design optimization from
ANSYS
(NASDAQ:
ANSS).

Massachusetts-based Terrafugia used ANSYS® engineering
simulation software to design and verify its new production prototype of
the Transition® aircraft that also can drive on the highway,
which was unveiled yesterday at the EAA AirVenture airshow. Terrafugia
engineers conducted whole-vehicle airflow tests that assessed the
effects of design changes on overall performance — working in parallel
across the various Transition components. The simulations were used to
maximize wing lift in the air and to minimize the effects of crosswinds
along the road.

“The Transition’s test flights identified some important engineering
issues that ANSYS fluid dynamics software helped us to address in the
production prototype,” said Gregor Cadman, an engineer at Terrafugia.
“Our latest design improves both the in-air and on-road performance of
the Transition, as well as ensures that the vehicle lends itself to
full-scale manufacturing. Simulation software from ANSYS played a
central role in these engineering efforts. Without the ability to work
in a virtual environment, we would have had to construct complicated
physical models, modify or rebuild them, and conduct hours of real-world
testing, slowing down the process and adding significantly to
development costs.”

The Transition is the world’s first vehicle to combine a lightweight,
aerodynamic aircraft with the stability needed for long-distance driving
on the highway. The vehicle can cruise up to 490 miles at over 105 miles
per hour, can drive at highway speeds on the road, and is capable of
transforming from plane to car in less than 30 seconds. The
sophisticated design features foldable wings that span more than 26
feet, a rear-wheel-drive system for the road and a propeller for flight.
Terrafugia’s team of aeronautical engineers earned global attention when
the Transition proof-of-concept vehicle completed a successful 60-second
test flight in March 2009. The company expects to begin commercial
production of the vehicle in 2011.

Working closely with ANSYS product specialists, the Terrafugia
engineering team also studied the impact of the Transition’s propeller
on air flows around the vehicle. As the project developed over time,
engineers applied simulation tools to study ever-smaller and more
precise design modifications, which added to their confidence that the
Transition will perform well in flight testing.

“The dual challenges of driving and flying present significant
challenges for aeronautical engineers,” said Greg Stuckert,
aerospace
industry manager at ANSYS. “Terrafugia’s use of engineering
simulation to fine-tune designs throughout the development process — not
just at the end for verification — contributed to an optimized historic
vehicle and an efficient product launch. Their earlier successful test
flights and this year’s production prototype are the proof that their
efforts are paying off.”

Terrafugia, Inc. (pronounced ter-ra-FOO-gee-ah) is the developer of the
first street-legal airplane which pilots can fly between local airports
and drive on any road. The start-up company has received
worldwide media attention, including coverage by Forbes, Fortune, CNN,
CBS and Fox News. Based in Woburn, Massachusetts, U.S.A., the company is
composed of a team of award-winning engineers who have been advancing
the state of personal aircraft since 2006. Founded by five pilots who
are graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and
supported by a world-class network of advisors and private investors,
Terrafugia’s mission is the innovative expansion of personal mobility.
Learn more at
www.terrafugia.com.

About ANSYS, Inc.

ANSYS, Inc., founded in 1970, develops and globally markets engineering
simulation software and technologies widely used by engineers,
designers, researchers and students across a broad spectrum of
industries and academia. The Company focuses on the development of open
and flexible solutions that enable users to analyze designs directly on
the desktop, providing a common platform for fast, efficient and
cost-conscious product development, from design concept to final-stage
testing and validation. The Company and its global network of channel
partners provide sales, support and training for customers.
Headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., with more than 60
strategic sales locations throughout the world, ANSYS, Inc. and its
subsidiaries employ over 1,600 people and distribute ANSYS products
through a network of channel partners in over 40 countries. Visit
www.ansys.com
for more information.

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